Lalit Modi case: probe agencies to approach Interpol afresh

A money laundering case was registered against Lalit Modi in December 2012 on the basis of an FIR lodged by former BCCI chief N. Srinivasan with the Chennai Police in October 2010.

Indian investigative agencies will make a fresh bid to obtain the much-delayed Interpol arrest warrant against former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi after the Chennai Police recently submitted that it is actively pursuing its criminal probe against him and others.

Officials said the Investigating Officer (IO) of the Crime Branch of Chennai police has informed the Finance Ministry and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that it had registered an FIR against Mr. Modi and seven others in 2010 on charges of alleged financial irregularities, based on a complaint by former BCCI President N. Srinivasan, which is “under investigation” and evidence is being gathered.

It is likely that the IO of Chennai police would also approach a local court to seek Mr. Modi’s presence in the case as being sought by the ED in its money laundering probe.

This 2010 FIR became the basis for the ED to register the ’predicate offence’ of money laundering against Mr. Modi in 2012.

After registering the offence, the anti-money laundering agency had sought an international Red Corner Notice (RCN) and arrest warrant against him from the Interpol.

The agencies, sources said, will make a renewed effort to make Mr. Modi join the probe being carried out by the ED and Chennai Police.

The Union government, during the recently concluded Parliament session, had said it was awaiting an investigation status report from Chennai Police in order to respond to queries raised by the Interpol in connection with the money laundering case against Mr. Modi.

Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha had, while replying to a question related to ED’s request to Interpol for issue of the RCN against Mr. Modi, said “certain queries were raised by the Commission for the Control of Interpol Files“.

“Further, a letter to the predicate agency (Chennai Police) has been sent for obtaining investigation status of the scheduled offence. The reply from predicate agency is awaited for responding to the queries raised by the Commission for the Control of Interpol Files,” he had said in a written reply.